A publicly owned forest is in danger of being clear-cut if ITS OWNERS, the citizens of Wicomico County, do nothing about it. The forest is part of a 350-acre parcel purchased by the county using state funds from Program Open Space. The forest contains numerous species typical in our native mixed forests: pine, yes, but also oak, dogwood, beech, holly, sweet gum, magnolia, and many other plant species, and deer, woodpeckers, raccoons, turtles, voles, skunks, and hawks. This forest should be left alone for the benefit of humans and other living things. It is absorbing carbon, producing oxygen, and filtering rainwater into the aquifer.
But right now a bulldozer sits in this forest. It is there because Wicomico County and the Army Corps of Engineers are testing this site as a place to dump mud from the next phase of a Corps project dredging the Wicomico River. The bulldozer is there to clear a path for the core driller, and the core driller is there to check the soil and the aquifer level before clear-cutting the forest to create a dump site for the dredge spoils begins.
When an Army Corps of Engineers employee was asked if the Corps or the county's Public Works Department were planning to cut the forest, he replied, "Only on the inside." Thirty acres or so. That's a larger area than you'd think. This is what will happen if we let it.
Wicomico County has not yet decided where to locate the dredge spoils dump, but this forest land is one of the few options it is still considering. If you don't want to lose this forest, you should call or write to anyone you know in the county government. John Redden (Acting Director of Public Works, 410-548-4810), Gary Mackes (Director of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, 410-548-4900, ext. 106), and Jim Grindle
(Public Works civil engineer overseeing the spoils dump facility project, 410-548-4810) would be good people to talk to. If you are not satisfied with what they tell you, you can call your county council member or Rick Pollitt, the County Executive (410-548-4800). Tell them to build the dredge spoils dump facility on a field instead of cutting the forest. Request that they have a plan for the Pirates Wharf Park
before destroying its forest.
The county has promised that it will not make a final decision before holding a public meeting. WET will keep you informed by email when a date is set for that meeting, and we encourage you to attend and make your views known to county officials.
If you want to get involved and make a difference, this is a good way to do so. If you want to see the forest, drive 2.5 miles down Whitehaven Road from Nanticoke Road and start counting telephone poles. Across from the fourth pole is a trail into the forest. Remember, THIS FOREST BELONGS TO YOU.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
13 comments:
Joe, You know, I can see it both ways. No I dont like to see forests cut down, but at the same time, dredging of the river is a necessary thing. They build a birm and put the silt, not mud, in the birm. This alone can create habitat for animals. The site on sharps point rd is home to ducks, turkeys and deer. If there is a landowner somewhere adjacent to the river who owns a field and would rent it to the county, I'm sure they could work something out. But we both know that wont happen. Everyone wants things, but nobody wants to give anything up. Just like everyone wants their road improved, but no one wants to give up any right of way. This silt is used as a cap on the landfill. After being used, this same site can be used over and over. The county owns this property, would you rather them purchase another piece somewhere along the river, or use something they already have? Not trying to be argumentative, just posing another view.
I have hunted in these woods. It is nearly all loblolly pines. I am sure if the county cuts it, they will have to replant somewhere else. Maybe they can plant some trees actually beneficial to wildlife, like oaks. Loblolly pines do nothing for wildlife, they are just a crop to the owner, not animals.
Joe, please stop this from happening.
If they follow the forest conservation laws then I see no problem with it.
Mr. Albero:
Thanks for putting your spotlight on this.
WET member
How can the the County / State / Feds allow this. You have property owners which have their woods labeled some conversational mumbo and their hands are tied for using their own land for any pupose. They cannot clear out dead trees and bull briars and put up a garage or place a shed there. What is the difference? Talk about abuse of the land for political gain. WHy don't they pay farmers to allow them to fill in the low farm land. It would take a few years to bring the land back to usable farm land but tax payers would be supporting the farmers instead of allowing the Politians to abuse their power for Political recognition / gain. I would email Rick but he tells me he reads this blog and its comments all the time. So I hope he stays on top of this and not let it happen.
Joe:
This is incredible. Let a farmer or developer touch a tree and the County P&Z wants to indict them.
Better do your homework here. Its a healthy thing to cut a forest. It allows new species to grow and provides a food source for wildlife. One of the best things you can do for long term forest health is to cut a mature pine forest down and let it grow back, or replant. I see the WET folks think this is an environmental disaster. Better talk to your local forester before you post this stuff.
As a farmer, there is no way I would want that on a farm field. The land will be ruined for farming for at least 50 years.
Trees will grow in dredge spoils, pull nutrients from the spoils all while sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. This is probably the most environmentally sound option.
Why not instead clear an area that NEEDS clearing?Contrary to popular belief,natural forests DO need to be cut back every now and then to prevent wildfires.I am sure there is an area of forest more suited to being cut down close by.The Nanticoke Rd corrider is still one of the most beautiful and scenic in the county and I am all for preserving it.
The State of Maryland's "Green Infrastructure Network" program has designated certain areas where the natural conditions are worth preserving because of location and various other environmetal factors.
Can someone determine if theis site it part of the special "hubs" and "corridors" under that program.
c'mon everybody! Obviously, no one goes to the forest and asks the ranger how forests are managed. Older trees are harvested and sold to benefit our tax base, so you don't have to pay. This opens up a GREAT deer and rabbit hunting area for the next few years to save on your grocery bill. New growth feeds the remaining wildlife expanding the population: MORE GROCERIES! I shop there every year, and visit often in the off season for a calming hike. That way, I save money on shrinks! This forest is there for all of us to use for education, recreation, and saves us all money. Take advantage of it! Or, you can just complain...
8:28 is right, many places where all the trees are cut down are replaced with pine trees. Thus the dwindling amount of wildlife in a lot of area's. Hardwoods like pecan, Oak (acorns) is where the wildlife lived off of the land. Ten or more years ago a good friend of mine's father who is a farmer is now sorry he allowed the state to cut a lot of his trees. Cut down all the hardwoods and replaced with all pine. They like hunting and now the prey just isn't there. I don't hunt but it's weird, I've been out in those wood, total silence it's erie, no birds nothing. I probably see more squirels right here in the city than he does way out in the country.
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